Download Drug Name Valproate, Sodium Valproate

Drug Name
Drug Use
Dose (loading dose, maintenance dose)
Therapeutic Range
Toxic Range
Bioavailability
Volume of Distribution
Normal Half Life
Half Life in End Stage Renal Disease
Elimination Route
Average Time to Steady State
Serum Sampling Times
Sampling Interval
Other Comments/Considerations
Valproate, Sodium Valproate, Valproic Acid
Anticonvulsant, Neuropathic pain, bipolar disorder, migraine
Adult doses
Epilepsy: initially 15mg/kg in divided doses increasing at twice weekly
intervals by 200mg according to response. Maintenance dose rarely >
40mg/kg
Bipolar Disorder: 500-2000mg daily
Migraine Prophylaxis: 200-400mg bd
Neuropathic Pain: 400-2000mg daily
280-700micromol/L (40-100mg/L) for epilepsy
Above 300micromol/L is needed for effective treatment of acute mania
>700micromol/L (>100mg/L)
90-100%
0.2L/kg
6-20hrs
Unchanged; 20-30hrs in liver disease
Hepatic (>90%)
1-5 days
Measure trough level (pre dose level)
2-4 days after beginning treatment or 2-4 days after a change in dose or
if displaying signs and symptoms of toxicity
Poor correlation between therapeutic efficacy and plasma concentration
but serum levels may be useful to confirm toxicity or compliance.
Hepatic impairment may increase serum concentration.
Potential for drug interactions